Yoyakarta- Jogja Heritage Society proposed that regions which have been destroyed due to Merapi eruption made as Merapi education park. That is to give education to community about data of destruction of the eruption. “We are preparing a spatial concept for Merapi area as Education Park and a great area to learn how big the destruction is,” said the Chairman of Jogja Heritage Society, Dr. Ir. Laretna T. Adhisakti, on the sidelines of workshop of Indonesia-Malaysia Heritae Tourism: Preservation and Conservation, at UGM PAU, Thursday (20/1).
According to Sita, her nickname, artifacts in the form of ruins need to be saved and collected as a heritage which can be studied and remembered in the future. “If the area is already green, people would have forgotten how the destruction was,” she said.
The Merapi Education Park includes a closed museum, community museum both indoor and outdoor. All artifacts will be gathered and placed in small museums founded in every hamlet which had been destroyed. “It is not different from the earthquake museum at Kobe, Japan,” said the UGM architect.
Sita explained that in each hamlet located in Merapi slope a small museum will be built, managed by the local people. Besides as tourism destination, the natural museum can improve the income of the local people. “The destroyed hamlet which is inappropriate to live in will be made the location for a museum, for example, a region which is specifically the route of pyroclastic flow, lava, or specifically about Merapi rocks,” she said.
This concept is currently worked on by heritage observers in Yogyakarta in cooperation with researchers and stakeholders. Furthermore, the concept will be proposed to Yogyakarta Provincial Government. “We plan to propose this concept to Governor,” she added.
Sita who delivered presentation in the Workshop emphasized that the role of community is very important for heritage preservation, including natural, cultural and community heritages.
She added that heritage architecture design is currently developed by architects on buildings which have historical value. However, the architects are not allowed to change the design of the building.
Meanwhile, Widiastuti, S.S., M.Hum., from Tourism and Culture Board of Yogyakarta said that in Yogyakarta City there are 573 heritage buildings. All of them are private property. “Almost 90% of the
buildings are occupied,” she said.
To give appreciation and award to the owners who have maintained the buildings, Yogyakarta Municipality Government gives incentive for land and building tax. “We are only able to give incentive for land and building tax. Maintenance subsidy has not been provided due to limited funds,” Widiastuti explained.